Conductor support



,1937. s. s. MATTHES VCONDUCTQR SUPPORT Filed April 14, 1936 Invenlor SJMUEL 5. amass A tlorney Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONDUCTOR SUPPORT Application April 14,

7 Claims.

My invention relates to supports for trolley wires and particularly for use in a system for supporting trolley wires for trolley bus operation.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple support for the two conductors of opposite polarity used in most trolley bus systems of the present day, and it is a further object of my invention that it shall be strong mechanically and have ample insulation and be inexpensive.

My invention is fully described in the specification and clearly shown in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of one form of my invention which I term a straight line and double curve hanger.

Fig. 2 is another form of my invention which I term a single curve hanger.

Fig. 3 is a view in partial section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 2 and shows the clamp support for the hanger ear or clamp used to attach the trolley wire to the support.

Overhead systems for trolley bus operation usually depend upon two trolley wires of opposite polarity and spaced approximately 2 ft. apart and my invention shown in Fig. 1 can be used for both straight line and curve construction.

At curves it has been, and is to a considerable extent, customary to use a standard single and double curve hanger for holding the trolley wires in position. These hangers have been standard on the market for many years and while highly efiicient and practical, they are expensive in themselves and expensive to install in trolley bus systems as it is necessary to connect the hangers together with interposed insulation and this involves considerable time on the part of the workmen.

With my improved hanger there is no connecting together of two expensive hangers but merely the attachment to the ends thereof of the supporting span wire or wires.

My invention also offers a much neater appearance and less complication to the overhead construction.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, shown in Fig. 1, I make use of an insulating member l, preferably of wood with enlarged and tapering ends 2. Upon the ends 2 are compressed metal terminals 3 and 4. The terminal 3 is shown with an eye 5 to one side of the longitudinal axis of the member I, and the terminal 4 is shown with an eye 6 which may take either of two positions, namely, that shown in solid lines 1936, Serial No. 74,325

or that shown in dotted lines, and whichever position is chosen is merely a matter of the assembly of the terminal 4 upon the member I.

I have shown the possible variation of the eyes 5 and 6' relative to each other as the device may be made up with such assembly of the parts as desired to meet line construction conditions, and to change the relative relation of the eyes 5 and 6 is found of advantage principally in the case where the device is to be used as a double curve openings 9. The clamp is formed with an opening in between the jaws to receive the member I. A bolt 1 I extends through the openings 9 to one side of the member l and the nut l2 in cooperation with the bolt 1 l operates to draw the jaws of the supporting clamp together into secure clamping relation with the member I.

The supporting clamp 6 is also provided with a lug 13 having a through opening [4 to one side of the member l in which is positioned the stud bolt it having a threaded end It upon which is screwed the nut ii. The bolt l5 extends above and below the horizontal axial plane of the memher I and is threaded for a predetermined distance such that when the nut I1 is screwed onto the bolt as far as the threads will permit, there will be a slight space l8 between the nut l1 and the lug [3.

This construction permits the nut I1 to swivel relative to the body 1 and also permits rotating the stud [5 when attaching it to a trolley wire holding device.

When my improved hanger is installed, there will be secured to the threaded end of the studs IS a trolley wire holding device which 'may comprise a trolley wire ear H! as shown in Fig. 1 or any of the well-known trolley wire clamps, or if it is desired to increase the insulation between the trolley wires and to ground, an insulated hanger may be secured to the stud IS. The trolley wire holding device is screwed up tightly against the nut 11. The freedom of rotation of the stud l5 permits the trolley wire holding device to align itself with the trolley wire regardless of the angle which the hanger may take with respect to the trolley wires. The device l9 may be positioned close to the member I thus reducing the bending load on the member I and clamp 6 due to side pull of the trolley wire at curves and turn-outs.

In Fig. 2 I have shown what might be termed a modification of Fig. l and which is intended as a pullover or single curve hanger for use on curves or turnouts. This hanger comprises the elongated insulating member I with a terminal 3 at one end corresponding to the terminal 3 in Fig. l and secured to the tapered end 2. It is shown that this terminal may have difierent positions depending upon the requirements as shown by the full and dotted lines of the eye 5.

At the other end of the member I in Fig. 2 is a terminal 20 which is also secured to the tapered enlargement 2. The terminal 20 is provided with a projecting lug 2| having a through opening 22 in which is positioned the stud 23 capable of rotation. The free end 24 of the stud is threaded in like manner as the stud l5 and when the nut 25 is screwed onto the stud 23 to its limit, there will be a space 25 between the lug 2i and the nut 25.

As a rule, on single curve hangers, there is only one pull-off wire used which would be secured to the eye 5, therefore, it is possible under such conditions to associate the stud 23 with the terminal 20 thus shortening the hanger but maintaining the same separation between the studs l5 and 23. However, as there are occasions when it is desired to support what might be termed the free end of the hanger, I provide an eye 21.

Mounted upon the member I is a supporting clamp 6 the same as shown and described with reference to Figs. 1 and 3 and for the same purpose.

The supporting clamps 6 shown in Fig. l are adjustable on the member I and likewise is the supporting clamp 6 shown in Fig. 2. The clamps 6 of Fig. 1 may have the members l5 positioned on opposite sides of the member I, thus balancing the down-load with respect to the longitudinal axis of the member I.

Having disclosed my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim is:--:

1. A hanger for trolley wires comprising an elongated member of insulating material and metallic end members at the ends thereof, each end member provided with an eye for attachment to a support, spaced means spaced from the end members and secured to the elongated member and the spaced means having rotatable studs positioned to the side of the insulating member and extending above and below the longitudinal axis of the member to support trolley wire holding means in close relation to the insulating member.

2. A trolley wire hanger comprising an elongated insulating member, metallic members secured to the ends of the insulating member and each having means of attachment to supporting means for the hanger, clamping means positioned on the insulating member and having means to one side of the insulating member to effect a gripping relation between the clamping means and the insulating member, and rotatable means associated with the clamping means and positioned to the side of the insulating member and extending partly above and partly below the longitudinal axis of the insulating member to support a trolley wire holding device.

3. A trolley wire hanger comprising an elongated insulating member, devices secured to the ends thereof and supporting means secured to the insulating member in spaced relation to the said devices, the devices and supporting means held in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the insulating member, means on one device positioned to one side of the said axis for attachment to a support and means on the other device positioned on the diametrically opposite side of the said axis for attachment to a support and rotatable means associated with the supporting means and positioned to the side of the insulating member for attachment thereto of a trolley holding device, the rotatable means extending above and below the longitudinal axis of the insulating member.

4. A trolley wire hanger comprising an elongated insulating member, devices secured to the ends thereof and supporting means secured to the insulating member in spaced relation to the said devices, the devices and supporting means held in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the insulating member, means on each device out of alignment with the said axis for attachment thereto of means to support the hanger and rotatable means associated with the supporting means to the side of the insulating member and positioned partly above and partly below the longitudinal axis of the insulating member for attachment thereto of a trolley wire holding device.

5. A trolley wire hanger comprising in combination three spaced metallic devices, elongated means to hold the devices in spaced and insulated relation, means on each of the end devices for attachment thereto of means to support the hanger and freely rotatable means with its axis of rotation normal to the trolley wire to support a trolley wire holder, and means associated with the intermediate device for supporting a trolley wire holder, the last said means being rotatable with its axis of rotation parallel with that of the first rotatable means and positioned to one side of the insulating member, each rotatable means having means to rotate the same.

6. A trolley wire hanger comprising in combination an elongated insulating member, metallic members secured to the ends of the insulating member and each metallic member having means of attachment to supporting means for the hanger, clamping means positioned on the insulating member and having means to eifect a gripping relation between the clamping means and the insulating member, and freely rotatable means associated with the clamping means and positioned to the side of the insulating member and extending above and below the longitudinal axis of the insulating member to support a trolley wire holding device.

7. A trolley wire hanger comprising in combination an elongated insulating member, metallic end members secured to the ends of the insulating member and at least one end member having means of attachment to a support for the hanger, clamping means positioned on the insulating member and having means to effect a gripping relation between the clamping means and the insulating member, freely rotatable means associated with the clamping means and positioned to the side of the insulating member and extending above and below the longitudinal axis of the insulating member to support a trolley wire holding device and freely rotatable means associated with at least one end member to support a trolley Wire holding device.

SAMUEL S. MATTHES. 

